What is the difference between being overweight and obese?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Overweight and obesity both refer to having excess body fat, but they differ in degree. Overweight is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9, while obesity is more severe, with a BMI of 30 or higher. Obesity carries a greater risk of health complications, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Understanding where you fall on this spectrum is an important first step, but weight alone doesn't tell the whole story. Symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, or shortness of breath may signal underlying conditions that need attention. Take a free, instant, online symptom check to better understand what your body is telling you and get clear guidance on your next steps—no appointment or sign-up required.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if overweight or obesity affects care Discover likely causes of your BMI category See if your weight needs medical evaluation Find OTC options for weight-related symptoms Find an obesity specialist near you Understand safe home remedies for weight management Find out if obesity risks need attention

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Explanation

Being overweight and being obese are terms used to describe having more body fat than is considered healthy. The main difference between the two is the amount of body fat.

Overweight: This is when a person has more body fat than is considered normal but not as much as someone who is obese.
Obese: This is when a person has a lot more body fat, which can lead to more health problems.

Researchers use different ways to measure body fat, such as body mass index (BMI), to decide if someone is overweight or obese. BMI is a number calculated from a person's weight and height. According to the references, there are specific BMI ranges that help classify if someone is overweight or obese, with obesity having a higher BMI than being overweight.

Understanding these differences is important because being overweight or obese can affect health in different ways. If you're experiencing symptoms or health concerns related to your weight, you can use a free symptom checker to better understand what might be affecting your well-being and make more informed health choices.

(References)

Potter AW, Chin GC, Looney DP, & Friedl KE. (2025). Defining Overweight and Obesity by Percent Body Fat .... The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 38747476.
Bray GA. (1987). Overweight is risking fate. Definition, classification, .... Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 3300479.
Aronne LJ. (2002). Classification of obesity and assessment of obesity-related .... Obesity research, 12490659.

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